Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Wharton, Wingstop, and Rick Ross

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton is slated to give a key to the city to Rick Ross Wednesday at one of the rapper/chicken wing magnate's newly opened Wingstop locations, in perhaps what will be one of the most Memphis things that has ever happened.

Ross announced earlier this week that he was expanding his franchise by 25 locations. Two new Wingstop locations in Memphis have brought the franchise total here to five. The Union Avenue location opened in June and the Bartlett Boulevard location opened in May.

“Not only is it growth for us, but also growth for the community, providing jobs, good food and a family environment for the people of that city," Ross said in a statement. "We definitely look forward to continuing to help grow the Memphis area.”

Wharton is slated to "bestow Ross with a symbolic key to the city honoring the economic and community contributions the Wingstop locations have provided for the city." That transaction will come at a grand opening event at the new Union location Wednesday.

"It’s a huge honor for me and my team to have Mayor Wharton give me the key to the city," Ross said. "In every city we open a Wingstop, it is our goal to make a positive impact."

Ross, the Grammy nominated, platinum-selling rapper, was born in Coahoma County, Miss., in 1976.